Flight Design Usa CT-SW N102RK

Summary

On 10 March 2007 at about 22:58 local time, a Flight Design Usa CT-SW registered N102RK, operated by Bode Aviation, Inc., was involved in an accident near Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

10 March 2007 at 22:58

Classification

Accident

Location

Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States

Nearest airport

Double Eagle II Airport (AEG)

Coordinates

35.1453, -106.7953

Aircraft

Flight Design Usa CT-SW

Registration

N102RK

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Bode Aviation, Inc.

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Albuquerque → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

DEN07FA068

2 people had minor injuries.

The total failure of the left main landing gear strut due to overload during the landing resulting in the loss of control and subsequent nose over. A factor contributing to the accident was the chief pilot 's inability to maintain directional control of the airplane after the landing gear failed. **This report was modified on August 13, 2007.**

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The company's chief pilot and student instructor had performed four successful touch-and-go landings. On the mishap landing, the student instructor started his flare at normal approach speed about 2 to 3 feet above the runway. As the airplane settled, the chief pilot raised the nose of the airplane slightly to prevent a bounced landing. The airplane subsequently ballooned. They elected to perform a go-around. The chief pilot advanced the power and "pitched the airplane to the landing attitude." The airplane settled to the runway in a slight left crab, touching down on the left main landing gear, which subsequently broke aft. The airplane came down on the runway and slid for 300 feet, departing the left side and flipping over onto its back. The airplane had been recently purchased by the company. Total airframe time was approximately 25 hours. An examination of the airplane showed the left main lower landing gear tube had fractured due to overstress at the landing gear wheel and brake attachment fitting. The overstress appeared consistent with a hard landing impact as a small compression buckle was observed at the top of the part and some tensile indications were seen at the bottom. There were also contact impressions on the inside of the tube most-likely made by the end of the main landing gear spring bar. The wheel and brake attachment fitting was identified as a steel with designation St37, according to the German DIN classification for steels. The St37 steel is specified to have a yield strength of at least 34 ksi (235 MPa) and tensile strength between 51 ksi and 70 ksi (350 MPa to 480 MPa). According to the ASM Metals Handbook, St37 is similar to SAE 1013 steel, which is a low-carbon steel. Hardness measurements on the fitting averaged 63.5 Rockwell B, with a standard deviation of 2 Rockwell B. For steel, a hardness of 65 Rockwell B corresponds to a tensile strength of 56 ksi, so the fitting appears to be within specification. This steel is at the lower end of the range of strength possible for steel. The ASM Metals Handbook indicates that fatigue resistance would also improve with increasing tensile strength. Information from the manufacturer indicates that the gear assembly was designed in accordance with ASTM F 2245, and successfully passed a drop test of 550 mm (21.7 inches) at a weight of 600 kg (1323 pounds). **This narrative was modified on August 13, 2007.**

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.